“I talked to ‘er jest the way you do, an’ then walked straight up to ’er so’s she’d see I wasn’t afeared.  Moose Jones says it’s no use tryin’ t’ do anything with a dog that knows you’re scared.  He told me the reason your father made a good dog out o’ Jack McMillan was because he wasn’t afeared of him, an’ give the dog an even break in the terrible fight they had.”

“Father always does that,” responded George proudly.  “He believes you got t’ show a dog once for all that you’re master of him at his very best.  If you tie a dog o’ McMillan’s spirit, an’ beat him t’ make him obey, he always thinks he hadn’t a fair chance.  But if you can show him that he can’t down you, no matter how good a scrap he puts up, he’ll respect you an’ like you the way Jack does Dad.”

“I don’t believe me an’ Queen’d ever have any trouble now,” observed Ben thoughtfully.  “Some way I guess we kinda understand each other better’n we did before.”

“Well, it sure shows you got courage,” exclaimed Dan admiringly.  “I wouldn’t touch that snarlin’ brute o’ George’s, not if I could win this race by it, an’ you know what I’d do fer that.”  He examined Judge, Jimmie, and Pete, with profound satisfaction.  They were compactly built, of an even tan color, short haired, bob-tailed, and all about the same size, being brothers in one litter.  Their sturdy legs suggested strength and their intelligent faces spoke of amiability as well as alertness.  They were indeed worthy sons of the fleet hound mother—­Mego—­whose puppies rank so high in the racing world beyond the frozen sea.  “They just glisten, Ben.  You must ‘a’ worked hard t’ get ’em lookin’ as smooth an’ shinin’ as the fur neck-pieces the girls wear.”

“O’ course I wanted t’ git Baldy ready fer his first race; an’ doin’ little things fer the other dogs is about the only way I kin pay everybody round here fer all they’re doin’ fer him.”

Baldy was fast learning not to despise the detail that had made the new life so irksome before he realized how necessary it is in a large Kennel; and he now stood patiently waiting for his harness, while long discussions took place as to the adjustment of every strap, and the position of every buckle.

“Scotty” and Matt had come in to be ready with counsel and service, if necessary; then the Allan girls and many of the children from the neighborhood arrived, and later the Woman appeared with the Big Man whom Baldy some way associated invariably with her, and a yellow malamute whom Baldy invariably associated with him.

The Big Man always spoke pleasantly to the dogs, and had won Baldy’s approval by not interfering—­as did the Woman—­in Kennel affairs; and the malamute—­the Yellow Peril, as the Woman had named him—­was plainly antagonistic to the Racers, at whom he growled with much enthusiasm.  And so Baldy was glad to see the Big Man and the Peril amongst the acquaintances and strangers who were thronging into the place.